Track-sweeper for railways



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Gv. M. BRILL. TRACK SWEBPER POR RAILWAYS.

matented Jan. 2.3, 1894i f i WW CZJ 4 'anun/M @am (N0 Model.) 3Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. M. BRILL.

TRACK ySWEEPER POR =RAILWAYS.

vNo. 513,230. Patented Jan. 23,1894

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Patented Jan. 23, 1894.

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. ilNTTan STATES PATENT Garros.-

GEORGE MARTIN BRILL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRACK-SWEEPER FOR RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 513,230, dated January23, 1894.

Application filed March 25, 1893.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE MARTIN BRILL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Track-Sweepers for Railways, of which the following 1s a specification.

My invention relates to track sweepers in which a dummy, which isadapted to be pulled or hauled along a railway, is provided withsweepers for clearing the snow and the like from tracks, and which areoperated by a motor of any desired form.

My invention consists of certain arrangements whereby, when the sweeperis to be used, the motormay be kept running'continuously, and thebrushes at either end of the dummy may be thrown in or out ofoperation'at will, without stopping the motor.

My invention also comprises means for raising the brushes at eitherendof the dummy 1n a vertical plane over the track, and means for enablingeach individual brush at either end of the dummy to be raised in avertical plane over the track independent of either of the otherbrushes, and in both cases, without -arresting either the motion of thebrush itself or that of the motor.

My invention further comprises the novel combination of elements, andthe construction of the same, hereinafter set forth and pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure I is a side elevation of a dummycarfurnished with my improved apparatus; Fig. 2, a plan view of thesame, the flooring being removed to show the working parts thereof; Fig.3, an enlarged detailview, being a longitudinal section taken 0n theline b b, Fig. 2, showing the manner in which the height of the broomsis adjusted, and the supporting and operating connections; Fig. 4, asectional elevation taken on the line a a, Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a sideelevation `partly in section of the elevating mechanism of amodification; Fig. 6, a view, similar to Fig. 4, of a modified form ofmyinvention, in which either brush can be adj usted independently of theother.

Similar letters and parts throughout the several views.

The dummy comprises the longitudinal and gures refer to similar SerialNo. 467,595. (No model.)

cross sills 1, 2; platform 3; the axle box pedestals 4, tied below bythe pedestal tie bar 5, both being bolted to the side sills; the axleboxes 6 in the pedestals with cushions or springs 7 between them; thewheels S and axles 9 journaled in the axle box.

Vhen referring to the dummy hereinafter I Wish to be understood asmeaning either the vehicle here shown or any other suitable form ofconveyance. i Y

For the purpose of supporting an electric motor I provide a carryingframe made up of the cross timbers 10, hanger timbers Il, studdingpieces l2, and journal pieces 13, all eX- cept the journal pieces beingsupported from the side sills. To both cross sills are secured the drawbars 14, braced thereto by the straps l5. The dummy may also have thebody shields a within which the operator may stand. I also provide broomshields made up of the depending plate b which maybe secured between itsends to the side sill 1 and supported above by the bar c supported onthe arms d which are in turn secured to the body shield a. Both ends arefitted in the same way.

On the motor frame -is suitably mounted an electric motor 16 of anyapproved construction, the armature of which is connected by gearing 17,1S to a shaft 19 revolving in suitable bearings supported in the bearingpieces 13, the shaft 19 being geared to the shaft 20, journaled inbearingsin the journal pieces 13 by gear wheels 2l, 22, the shaft 2Obeing furnished at each end with a clutch face 23 adapted to engage theclutch face 24 carried by the collar 25, which by means of a groovetherein and a feather (in the usual way) on the clutch shaft 26, isadapted to impart rotation to the shaft 26 while able to movelongitudinally upon the shaft 20. For imparting this longitudinalmovement to the collars so as to bring the clutch faces 23 and 24 intoeny gagement, levers 27 are employed, carrying,

at the ends of their short arms 2S, studs 29 which engage in the grooves30 of the collars,` so that by shifting the levers the collars are movedinto or out of the position of engagement without interfering with therotary movement of the collars. Each shaft 26 carmeshing with a bevel,gear wheel 28 on the IOO ries at its outer end a bevel gear wheel 27 l wtransverse shaft 29 supported in suitable bearings 30 on the truckframe, and carrying at each side bevel wheels 3l gearing with bevelwheels 32 at the end of shafts 33 which ro tate in bearings 34, 35,secured to the vibrational platform or support 36 which is pivotallysupported on the shaft 29 by a center bearing and extension 37, Fig. 2and end bearings 38, Fig. 4. The shafts 33 carry at their outer endscircular brooms or sweepers 39, arranged to sweep the track adjacent tothe rails thereof, said shafts having preferably a slight divergence forthat purpose, as well as to more effectually sweep the tracks.

Thus far it will be seen that the brooms are directly connected with themotor byinfiexible devices, whereby the motor can work directly uponthem, instead of interposing in the connectionsbetween the motorandbrooms such flexible devices as sprocket chains and the like.

By `my arrangement it is possible to continuously operate the motor andthrow the brooms at either end of the dummy in and out of operation.This enables me to back up the dummy to go over the same spot on thetrack several times and at each forward or backward movement to operateeither the front or rear brooms. When backing up the rear brooms willlead and reach the desired portion of the track (which it is desired toresweep) without causing the dummy to move sufliciently for bringing theprior leading brooms to the desired spot.

By providing bevel gearing for the broom shafts 33, and supporting themso that the gears 32 can work upon the face of the bevel gear 3lfromwhich the broom shafts derive their motion, I can raise or lower thebrooms without disturbing their continuity of rotation, or checking orreversing the motion of the motor.

As the means for taking up the current for the motor and reversing orchecking its motion are well known in the art, I have not shown them asany suitable form can be used.

For the purpose of raising the brooms from the track, there is providednear each end of the car, a transverse rock shaft 40, having endbearings 41 in the side sills 1, and secured to the rock shaft, by a setscrew 42 or otherwise, is a lever 43 passing upward through the flooring3 of the car, and furnished with the usual rack 44 and detent pin 45 forholding the lever in the desired position. To the rock shaft are alsosecured crank arms 46, whose ends are connected by rods 47 with lugs 48upon the collars 49, which have guide studs 50 moving in slots 51 in thedepending guide plates 52 of the hangers 53 secured to the side` sills 1by the bolts 54, the bend 55 of the hangers having a slot 56 throughwhich the rod 47 passes. It will be seen that by this arrangement theplatform 36, upon which the broom shafts rest, being pivoted upon thetransverse shaft 29, may be raised to any angle and lowered withoutinterfering with the engagement of the bevel wheels 18 and 19.

By a modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the brooms can be raised andlowered singly or individually without imparting a like movement to theadjoining broo1n,thus'mak ing each broom independent in operation so faras raising or lowering is concerned and accommodating the position ofeach broom to the inequalities in the road bed.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6, instead of the single rockshaft 40, two such shafts 57, 58 are provided, each having a bear ing inthe journals 41 in the side sills of the truck frame and an innerbearing 59 supported from the flooring 3 of the car. Separate levers 60,6l, racks 62, 63, detents 64, 65 and lift rods 66, 67 are providedforthe rock shafts, and the platform or support 36` and shaft 29 aredivided and formed double as shown, so that each broom shaft can beseparately and independently elevated to any desired extent and lowered,the rest of the details remaining the same as before described. Also bymeans of the friction clutches, either or all of the broom shafts asdesired may be thrown into working engagement with the driving shaft.

The electric current for the motor may be derived either from a distantsource as in the trolley system, or from storage batteries carried bythe car.

Many changes and alterations `can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit of the same.

Having described my invention, what l claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent,

1. In atrack sweeper, the combination with a car or truck,`of tracksweeping brooms rotatively supported at ornear the opposing ends thereofand normally lying in operative contact with the track or rail, aunitary source of power for all the brooms, connections between thepower and brooms, whereby allthe brooms can be simultaneously operatedfrom the same source of power, and means whereby the connections can beindependently broken without disturbing the operative relationship ofthe brooms to the rail or track, substantially as described.

2. In a track sweeper, the combination of a car, brooms and gearedinflexible broom shafts rotatively supported on the oar and extendingtherefromin opposite directions,a motor to operate the brooms to theexclusion of the car propulsion, connections between the motor andbrooms whereby all the brooms can be simultaneously operated or theirmovement independently arrested, and means whereby either of the broomshafts can be independently raised or lowered about their gearedconnections without arresting their rotation, substantially asdescribed.`

, 3. The combination with a car, of a driving shaft mounted in bearingsthereon, aworking shaft at or near each end of the car operated IIO bythe driving shaft, rotative broom shafts and brooms operativelyconnected with the working shafts, and means for raising or loweringeither of the brooms from the track without arresting their rotation,siibstantiall y as described.

4. The combination with the car, of the motor thereon, a drive shaftdriven thereby, a transversely extending working shaft in gear with thedrive shaft, longitudinal broom shafts in gear with the working shaftextending from opposite corners of the car at the end thereof, brooms onthe broom shafts, and means for raising or lowering either one or bothof the brooms to or from the track witliout arresting the movement ofthe brooms, substantially as described.

5. In a track sweeper, the combination with a car, of a plurality ofsweeping devices sup ported on the car in operative relationship withthe track and extending in opposite directions therefrom, a motor otherthan the car itself carried by the car, a main or driving shaftoperating all of the sweeping. devices, an idler or supplemental shaftin gear with the main shaft, connections between theidler shaft and thesweepers, and means for independently manipulating any one of thesweepers to clean either rail of the track, substantially as described.

d. The combination, with a car truck, of a driving shaft mounted inbearings thereon,

. and means for actuating it independently of the car axles, a workingshaft, a broom arranged to sweep the car track and operatively connectedto the working shaft, and means for throwing the working shaft intoengagement with the driving shaft, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a car truck, of a driving shaft mounted inbearings thereon, a working shaft at each end, each of said workingshafts ybeing arranged to be actuated by said driving shaft, brooms ateach end of the car operatively connected with the working shaft, andmeans for throwing either or both of the working shafts into engagementwith the driving shaft, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with a car truck, of a driving shaft mounted inbearings thereon, and operated independently of the caraxles, a workingshaft, a clutch for throwing the shafts into engagement, and a broomarranged to sweep the car track and operatively connected to the workingshaft, substantially as described.

9. In a track sweeper, the combination with a suitable vehicle, of arotative broom or brooms supported in operative relationship to a trackby an iniiexible shaft carried upon said vehicle,a motor on said vehicleadapted to operate the broom independent of the movement of the vehicle,operative connections between the broom shaft and motor, and means forraising or lowering the broom shaft about said connections withoutarresting the movement of either, substantially as described.

10. In a track sweeper, the combination with a car, of a longitudinaland inflexible rotative broom shaft, journal bearings on the car for thesaid shaft, a motor, a main shaft, an idler shaft, gearing between theidler and broom shafts, and means for raising or lowering the broom,whereby the brooms can be supported in operative connection with thetrack and raised or lowered from or into such position bodily about saidgearing without arresting the rotation of the broom, substantially asdescribed.

ll. In a track sweeper, the combination with a car, the transverselyrotative and positively car over each rail by an inexible shaft, amotor, and connections between it and the broom shaft, means for raisingor lowering `the broom, the broom shaft connections permittingsaidsliaft to be moved in the arc of a circle, Without arresting itsmovement, substantially as described.

12. In a track sweeper, the combination of the car or the like, of amotor, a transversely extending work shaft in gear with the motor,outwardly diverging broom shafts, connections between the work and broomshafts, and the transversely rotative brooms on the broom shafts,substantially as described.

driving shaft mounted thereon, and extending longitudinally thereof,means for rotating the same, rotary brooms at the ends of the truckarranged to sweep the car track, means for operatively connecting thebrooms at either end with the driving shaft, and means for raising saidbrooms while so connected, substantially as described.

14,. The combination, with a car truck, of a driving shaft mountedthereon, and means for rotating the same, brooms at each end of thetruck, operative connections between the brooms and the opposite ends ofsaid driving shaft, and means for raising either broom withoutdisturbing said connections, substantially as described.

15. The combination of a car truck,adriv ing shaft geared to the drivingshaft, a vibrational platform hiing on said working shaft, a broomactuating shaft journaled in bearings on said platform and geared to theworking shaft, a broom or brush, and means for raising said platform,substantially as described.

16. The combination of va car truck,a driving shaft carried' in bearingsthereon, working shafts at each end of the car and geared to the drivingshaft, Vibrational platforms hung on said working shafts, broomactuating shafts journaled in bearings on said platforms, brooms orbrushes, and means for raising said platforms independently,substantially as described.

17. The combination of a car truck, adriving shaft, carried in bearingsthereon, an independent shaft 26 also journaled in bearings 13. Thecombination, with a car truck, of a ing shaft carried in bearingsthereon, a'work-l connected broom or brooms supported on the ICO IIO

on said truck, a clutch between said shafts, a Working shaft geared tothe shaft 26, and a broom actuating shaft geared to the wbr-king shaft,and means for raising said broom actuating shaft, substantially asdescribed.

18. The combination of a car truck,a driving shaft, a working shaftgeared thereto, gears on said working shaft, a vibrational platformjournaled on the working shaft, a broom actuating shaft journaled inbearings on said platform,'gears on said broom shaft meshing With saidgears on the Workingshaft, a broom or brush, and means for raising saidplatform, whereby as it turns on the working shaft the gears will remainin mesh, substantially as described.

19. The combination of a car truck, a driving shaft, a working shaftgeared thereto, a vibrational platform hung on the Working shaft, abroom actuating shaft journaled in bearings on said platform, and gearedto the working shaft, a collar on the broom shaft, an actuating leverconnecting with said collar, guide hangers for the broom shafts, and abroom or. brush, substantially as described.

20. The combination of a car truck, a driving shaft, a Working shaftgeared thereto, a Vibrational platform hung on the working shaft, abroom actuating shaft journaled in bearings on said platform, a collaron said shaft, a lever connected with said collar, a guide hanger havinga slot, a 'pin on said collar entering said slot, and a broom or brush,substantially as described.

21. The combination of a car truck, a motor carried thereby, a shaft 19geared thereto, a driving shaft geared to the shaft 19, said shaftsbeing journaled in bearings on the car truck, a working shaft geared tothe driving shaft, a broom actuating shaft geared to the working shaft,and a broom or brush, substantially as described.

Signed at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, this 13th day of March, 1893. I

GEORGE MARTIN BRILL.

Witnesses:

HENRY C. ESLING. WM. H. HEULINGS, Jr.

